Stop and Smell the Zinc

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There a moments in life where the combination of a cold beer, a balmy autumn day and a reflective mood create the perfect mix.

My sister in-law, her husband and I shared this last autumn and what resulted was the smallest project I have ever done, yet very rewarding.

We were always told at University NEVER to work for family OR lawyers…this was logically the ‘perfect storm’ – as both are lawyers!

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As we sat outside, beer in hand, the frustrations of the existing ill-conceived three sets of barely operable west facing french doors came percolating to the top of their ‘projects’. At the start of that beer they were relatives – by the end they became ‘clients’.

By the end of the second beer we had a design; and we didn’t need a third beer to resolve the cladding material. The sheer mention of ZINC sent my ‘brother-in-law’ into an excitable spin!

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We co-ordinated the project construction during the week they went on holiday. And interestingly they didn’t want progress photos provided. They wanted the before and after WOW.

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Technically the design included an angled ‘shroud’ clad in superbly crafted French Zinc.

This shroud continued past the 6m wide x 2.8m high aluminium stacker slider doors and into the room interior by a hand span; to blur the lines between inside and outside as well as creating a dramatic ‘frame’ to enhance the aspect.

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What a joy it was taking these finished photos last night…drinking my beer, watching their children flow seamlessly across the threshold – dreaming of the balmy spring and summer ahead.

As their children get older hopefully they will appreciate dad’s wonder with ZINC…I certainly do.